dimanche 31 août 2008

Crater 1

Crater ( Latin: cup) is one of the 88 modern constellations and was also one of the 48 listed by Ptolemy. It is said to represent the goblet of Apollo. It has no star brighter than fourth magnitude.

A crow/raven serves Apollo, and is sent to fetch water, but it rests lazily on the journey, and after finally obtaining the water in a cup, takes back a water snake as well, as an excuse. According to the myth, Apollo saw through the fraud, and angrily cast the crow, cup, and snake, into the sky. The origin of this story is likely to be the juxtaposition of this constellation with those of Corvus (constellation), and Hydra (constellation), in the area of the sky known as the Sea.